We, the undersigned, request the continued protection of Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) and vigorously oppose the relaxation in any manner of its current protective status.
Goliath Grouper have been inhabitants of Florida's reefs for millions of years and serve a vital role in the healthy functioning of the reefs. They have been listed as a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and have been protected from fishing in the United States since 1990, and in the Caribbean since 1993 (source: Wikipedia).
Many of us are divers and have witnessed the large congregations of these amazing creatures from August to October in Palm Beach County, where they travel perhaps hundreds of miles to congregate in groups of 50 to 75 for breeding purposes. It is incredibly sad that a group of 50-75 individuals constitutes a large aggregation, but such is the state of our oceans today.
We have witnessed the curious nature of these massive creatures and watched them roll on their sides to have their bellies scratched by a diver. Fisherman and spear-fisherman wish to hunt them for sport, but we cannot see the sport in shooting an animal that willfully approaches divers.
We, the undersigned, are extremely opposed to the removal of protected status from these gentle giants.
We, the undersigned, request the continued protection of Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) and vigorously oppose the relaxation in any manner of its current protective status.
Goliath Grouper have been inhabitants of Florida's reefs for millions of years and serve a vital role in the healthy functioning of the reefs. They have been listed as a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and have been protected from fishing in the United States since 1990, and in the Caribbean since 1993 (source: Wikipedia).
Many of us are divers and have witnessed the large congregations of these amazing creatures from August to October in Palm Beach County, where they travel perhaps hundreds of miles to congregate in groups of 50 to 75 for breeding purposes. It is incredibly sad that a group of 50-75 individuals constitutes a large aggregation, but such is the state of our oceans today.
We have witnessed the curious nature of these massive creatures and watched them roll on their sides to have their bellies scratched by a diver. Fisherman and spear-fisherman wish to hunt them for sport, but we cannot see the sport in shooting an animal that willfully approaches divers.
We, the undersigned, are extremely opposed to the removal of protected status from these gentle giants.
We signed the "Continue to protect the goliath grouper" petition!
# 1,131:
7:25 am PST, Nov 22,Name not displayed, Michigan
# 1,130:
5:54 pm PST, Nov 21,Rich Mcelhoes, Pennsylvania
# 1,129:
4:21 am PST, Nov 21,Philippe Ducreux, France
# 1,128:
3:11 pm PST, Nov 20,Steve Metcalf, Rhode Island
Protect biodiversity - protect the goliath grouper, an apex predator vital to the continued health of reef ecosystems.
# 1,127:
2:19 pm PST, Nov 20,Matt Blakey, United Kingdom
# 1,126:
12:24 pm PST, Nov 20,Stacy Misura, Washington
These fish are critically endangered and no one should be allowed to hunt them. It's not all that challenging to hunt an animal that moves slowly, if at all. As for decimating populations of other reef animals I don't think the Goliath grouper poses much threat. They don't move much and their metabolisms are fairly slow so they may only eat every few days.
# 1,125:
11:18 am PST, Nov 20,Jason Higley, Florida
Yes they are neat and cool looking, but here are some facts
Goliath's eat anything they can catch, which usually is not baitfish but slower moving fish, lobster, and small sea turtles.If you have ever dove a spot and seen a Goliath on a part of the reef and or wreck, you will notice there is less sealife in the area than in an area where one is not.While I would not support an open season to them, there does need to be a limited/restricted means of harvest and balancing to ensure a strong population of other sealife.As far as the meat quality issue, the smaller ones are fine to eat(less than 100#).Please keep in mind the other sealife that Goliath's are decimating.The state of these species at the moment are comparative to putting a herd of cattle in a 5 acre plot,eventually all the grass will be gone.
# 1,124:
9:53 am PST, Nov 20,Pryscilla Maracini, Brazil
# 1,123:
9:02 am PST, Nov 20,Reuben Flatt, Michigan
Please protect one more piece of the eco-puzzle!
# 1,122:
6:47 am PST, Nov 20,Good God, Florida
KILL THEM ALL THEN I'LL SEND THE ONES BACK THAT I DON'T LIKE
# 1,121:
6:35 am PST, Nov 20,Ronald Gerson, Florida
# 1,120:
8:43 pm PST, Nov 19,Alfonso Aguilar-Perera, Mexico
# 1,119:
6:34 pm PST, Nov 19,Sandro Klippel, Brazil
# 1,118:
5:03 pm PST, Nov 19,Monica Peres, Brazil
# 1,116:
4:07 pm PST, Nov 19,Lee Weber, Florida
I support efforts to continue the protection of the Goliath group. Because of their size and longevity, they are likely to contain high levels of mercury and be of little food value. Extractive use of these creatures does not make sense. They are highly valued by non-spear fishing divers and sport fishermen who practice catch and release.
I fished an dived out of Tarpon Springs back in the 70's and 80's. Over that time I observed the devastation of the Goliath population that resulted from spear fishing. The availability of Loran at that time (and now GPS) make the species too easily accessible since they aggregate on known rock ledges and wrecks. While their numbers have increased in recent years, their general abundance has not reached the level that was present in the early 1970's.
As a sport fisherman, I should also point out that the assertion by some anglers that Goliaths are "destroying the reefs" is groundless. They co-habit reefs and wrecks with grouper and snapper without significantly affecting these species. While a Goliath will very occasionally take a hooked fish, they have always been a part of the reef environment and should be protected.
Sincerely,
Lee A. Weber, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department of Biology
University of Nevada
# 1,115:
3:12 pm PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Florida
As a marine scientist & scuba instructor I implore you to maintain the current protected status of the Goliath Grouper.
# 1,114:
1:17 pm PST, Nov 19,Dee Wilke, New Mexico
We lose nothing by saving these unique creatures but gain much in making our oceans a much more magical place, please continue to support saving these wonderous groupers.
# 1,113:
9:10 am PST, Nov 19,Peter Thompson, Michigan
We need to increase awareness of our ecosystem. One the ways to do this is popularize species. The Goliath Grouper stands out as being one of the creatures easily noticed even by novice naturalists. All ocean species should be protected from over fishing and population decimation.
# 1,112:
8:45 am PST, Nov 19,Norman Patrick Peritore, Brazil
Florida is an important international diving destination, and news of their loss of protected status is all over the dive media. Avoid loss of revenue by not caving in to minority interests of fishermen and spear fishermen; the diving industry is much more important in revenues, and groupers are still endangered by climate change, as are all of your reefs.
# 1,111:
6:18 am PST, Nov 19,Miki Squires, Florida
Save the Goliath!
# 1,109:
12:33 pm PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, Germany
# 1,108:
9:55 am PST, Nov 18,Ana Catarina Lourinho Martins, Portugal
# 1,107:
9:49 am PST, Nov 18,Deborah Price, Florida
# 1,106:
7:51 am PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, Florida
# 1,105:
7:44 am PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, Australia
Groupers, or in my country Gropers, are fish that live for a relatively long time and, commensurately do not breed at the drop of a hat. To think of calling in the ban of fishing for this species, by whatever means, is completely illogical to me.
# 1,104:
7:15 am PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, Florida
# 1,103:
5:10 am PST, Nov 18,Traci Ellison, Florida
# 1,102:
4:53 am PST, Nov 18,Irene Brandt, United Kingdom
# 1,101:
3:05 am PST, Nov 18,Arthur J Mariano, Florida
As a professor of oceanography, I can not believe that anyone is
even considering killing an endangered species. The goliath
grouper must be protected for the good of the entire marine
environment. Given that they congregate in groups, it will be
too easy and no sport to kill off this population. I am avid fisherman,
president of the Hollywood Hills Swordfish Science and Social Club,
board member of the Swordfish Club, a member of a couple
other fishing clubs and I lecture on fishing. Even though I love to catch
big fish, my science background tells me to sign this petition because
goliath grouper are that important to the marine environment. Feel free to contact Professor Mariano at professoro@bellsouth.net.
